Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap

Course Overviews

Get detailed overviews for every course in Pokémon Snap. Understand layouts and resident Pokémon to capture stunning photos and achieve high scores.

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Course Overviews

Welcome, aspiring Pokémon photographer! This section is your essential guide to mastering every course in the original Pokémon Snap. Each location presents unique challenges and opportunities to capture stunning shots of Pokémon in their natural habitats. Understanding the layout, resident Pokémon, and effective item usage is key to achieving a perfect score from Professor Oak.

Beach

The Beach is your introductory course, a sunny and relatively straightforward environment designed to familiarize you with the basics of Pokémon photography. It's an excellent place to practice your aim with Apples and learn how to coax reactions from Pokémon.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Pidgey: Often seen flying overhead or perched on rocks. An Apple can sometimes lure them closer.
    • Doduo: Roaming the sandy shores. Throwing an Apple near them can make them peck at it.
    • Butterfree: Fluttering gracefully through the air. Try to catch them mid-flight.
    • Lapras: Can be seen swimming in the ocean. Use the Poké Flute to make them surface and sing.
    • Pikachu: Often found near the start, by a surfboarding Pikachu sign, or riding a surfboard later in the course.
    • Meowth: Can be found near the start, often sleeping. An Apple can wake it.
    • Magikarp: Jumps out of the water near the end. Hit it with an Apple to send it flying towards a Mankey.
    • Snorlax: Sleeping in the middle of the course. Wake it with the Poké Flute for a great photo opportunity.
    • Chansey: Appears after Snorlax is woken, often dancing.
    • Mankey: Appears near the end, usually harassing a Magikarp.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Pikachu on Surfboard: Near the end, hit the Magikarp with an Apple to launch it into a Mankey. This will cause a Pikachu to appear on a surfboard, offering a unique photo.
    • Waking Snorlax: Use the Poké Flute multiple times to wake Snorlax. This will also cause Chansey to appear.
    • Pidgey & Doduo: Practice hitting these faster-moving Pokémon with Apples to get them to react or come closer.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Pikachu on a surfboard: Triggered by hitting the Magikarp into Mankey.
    • Snorlax dancing: After waking Snorlax with the Poké Flute.
    • Chansey dancing: Appears after Snorlax is woken.

Tunnel

The Tunnel course is a dark and mysterious environment, filled with industrial machinery and hidden pathways. It introduces the Pester Ball and requires keen observation to uncover its secrets.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Jigglypuff: Can be found near the beginning, often sleeping. Use the Poké Flute to wake it.
    • Zubat: Flying erratically throughout the tunnel. Difficult to photograph clearly.
    • Electrode: Embedded in the walls. Hitting them with a Pester Ball can cause them to explode, clearing paths or revealing other Pokémon.
    • Pikachu: Can be found in various spots, sometimes riding on a Mine Cart or near Electrode.
    • Dugtrio: Emerge from the ground after a series of events.
    • Zapdos: The legendary Pokémon found at the end, requiring a specific sequence of actions to appear.
    • Moltres (Secret): Can be found if a specific Electrode is hit.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Clearing Paths with Electrode: Hit the Electrode in the walls with Pester Balls. Some explosions will clear debris, opening new routes or revealing Pokémon.
    • Jigglypuff's Performance: Wake the first Jigglypuff with the Poké Flute. Later, three Jigglypuff will appear on stage. Hit them with Apples to make them sing.
    • Summoning Zapdos: To make Zapdos appear, you must hit the three Electrode that are powering the generator at the end of the tunnel with Pester Balls. This will cause Zapdos to fly down. Hit Zapdos with an Apple to make it charge the generator, causing it to fly around for photos.
    • Moltres's Appearance: After clearing the path with the first Electrode, you'll see a second Electrode on the left. Hit this Electrode with a Pester Ball, and Moltres will fly out of the explosion.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Jigglypuff singing: After waking the three Jigglypuff on stage and hitting them with Apples.
    • Zapdos charging the generator: After hitting the three power-source Electrode and then hitting Zapdos with an Apple.
    • Moltres flying: After hitting the specific Electrode that releases it.

Volcano

The Volcano course is a fiery and dangerous environment, home to many Fire-type Pokémon. It emphasizes precise timing and the strategic use of Apples and Pester Balls to lure Pokémon into frame.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Charmander: Often seen near lava pools or on ledges. Throwing an Apple can make them breathe fire.
    • Vulpix: Can be found near the beginning, often sleeping. Wake them with the Poké Flute.
    • Magmar: Lurking in lava pools. Use Apples to lure them out for better shots.
    • Growlithe: Can be found in various spots, often running around.
    • Arcanine: Appears after a specific sequence involving Growlithe.
    • Rapidash: Galloping through the volcanic plains.
    • Ponyta: Often seen alongside Rapidash.
    • Groudon (Secret): The legendary Pokémon, hidden deep within the volcano.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Waking Vulpix: Use the Poké Flute to wake the sleeping Vulpix near the start.
    • Luring Magmar: Throw Apples into the lava pools to make Magmar emerge.
    • Evolving Growlithe: Near the end, you'll see a Growlithe. Hit it with an Apple, and it will run towards a specific spot. Hit it with another Apple there, and it will evolve into Arcanine.
    • Summoning Groudon: This is a complex sequence. First, hit the three Magmar that emerge from the lava near the end with Pester Balls. This will cause a large rock to fall, revealing a switch. Hit the switch with a Pester Ball, and Groudon will emerge from the lava.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Charmander breathing fire: After hitting it with an Apple.
    • Arcanine: After evolving Growlithe.
    • Groudon emerging: After completing the summoning sequence.

River

The River course is a lush, vibrant environment teeming with Grass and Water-type Pokémon. It offers many opportunities for interaction, particularly with the use of Apples to guide Pokémon.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Bulbasaur: Often seen near the water's edge or in grassy areas.
    • Poliwag: Swimming in the river.
    • Vileplume: Can be found near the start. Use the Poké Flute to make it dance.
    • Shellder: Clamped onto rocks in the river. Hit them with Pester Balls to open them.
    • Cloyster: Appears after hitting a Shellder.
    • Metapod: Hanging from trees. Hit them with Apples to make them fall.
    • Weepinbell: Can be found in various spots.
    • Gyarados: The legendary Pokémon, requiring a specific sequence to appear.
    • Squirtle (Secret): Can be found by hitting a Metapod.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Vileplume Dance: Use the Poké Flute near Vileplume to make it dance.
    • Opening Shellder: Hit Shellder with Pester Balls to make them open, revealing a Cloyster.
    • Squirtle's Appearance: Hit the Metapod hanging from the tree near the waterfall with an Apple. It will fall, and a Squirtle will appear from behind the waterfall.
    • Summoning Gyarados: This requires hitting three Poliwag with Apples to make them jump into a whirlpool. After the third Poliwag jumps in, Gyarados will emerge from the whirlpool.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Vileplume dancing: After using the Poké Flute.
    • Squirtle emerging from waterfall: After hitting the Metapod.
    • Gyarados emerging from whirlpool: After the Poliwag sequence.

Cave

The Cave course is a dark and mysterious labyrinth, full of Psychic and Rock-type Pokémon. It introduces the concept of using the Poké Flute to trigger specific Pokémon movements and reveals hidden legendary Pokémon.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Zubat: Flying throughout the cave, difficult to photograph.
    • Ditto: Disguised as other Pokémon (Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle). Hit them with a Pester Ball to reveal their true form.
    • Grimer: Emerging from toxic pools. Use Apples to lure them out.
    • Muk: Appears after a specific interaction with Grimer.
    • Koffing: Floating around the cave.
    • Weezing: Can be found alongside Koffing.
    • Articuno: The legendary Pokémon, found encased in ice.
    • Mewtwo (Secret): The legendary Pokémon, hidden at the end of the cave.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Revealing Ditto: Hit the "Bulbasaur," "Charmander," or "Squirtle" that are acting strangely with a Pester Ball to reveal they are Ditto.
    • Luring Grimer/Muk: Throw Apples into the toxic pools to make Grimer emerge. Hit three Grimer with Apples, and a Muk will appear.
    • Freeing Articuno: Near the start, you'll see a Jynx. Use the Poké Flute to make it dance, which will cause it to use Ice Beam on a frozen Articuno, freeing it.
    • Summoning Mewtwo: This is a multi-step process. First, hit the three Koffing that are floating around with Pester Balls. This will cause a large rock to fall, revealing a switch. Hit the switch with a Pester Ball, and a portal will open. Throw an Apple into the portal, and Mewtwo will emerge.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Ditto revealed: After hitting the disguised Pokémon with a Pester Ball.
    • Muk emerging: After hitting three Grimer with Apples.
    • Articuno flying: After Jynx frees it.
    • Mewtwo emerging: After completing the summoning sequence.

Valley

The Valley course is a rugged and challenging environment, home to many Ground and Fighting-type Pokémon. It requires precise item usage and quick reflexes to capture its inhabitants.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Geodude: Clinging to cliff faces. Hit them with Apples to make them fall or react.
    • Graveler: Rolling down hills. Try to get a shot of them mid-roll.
    • Sandshrew: Burrowing in the sand. Use Apples to make them pop out.
    • Sandslash: Appears after a specific interaction with Sandshrew.
    • Diglett: Popping out of the ground.
    • Dugtrio: Appears after a specific interaction with Diglett.
    • Onix: A massive Rock-type Pokémon, often seen emerging from the ground.
    • Rhyhorn: Charging through the valley.
    • Rhydon: Appears after a specific interaction with Rhyhorn.
    • Dragonite: The legendary Pokémon, found flying at the end of the course.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Evolving Sandshrew: Hit a Sandshrew with an Apple, and it will run towards a specific spot. Hit it with another Apple there, and it will evolve into Sandslash.
    • Summoning Dugtrio: Hit three Diglett that pop out of the ground with Apples, and a Dugtrio will appear.
    • Evolving Rhyhorn: Hit a Rhyhorn with an Apple, and it will charge towards a specific spot. Hit it with another Apple there, and it will evolve into Rhydon.
    • Summoning Dragonite: Near the end, you'll see a series of Geodude clinging to a cliff face. Hit them all with Pester Balls, and they will fall, revealing a pathway. Follow this path, and you'll see a Dragonite flying in the distance. Hit it with an Apple to make it fly closer for a better shot.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Sandslash: After evolving Sandshrew.
    • Dugtrio: After the Diglett sequence.
    • Rhydon: After evolving Rhyhorn.
    • Dragonite flying close: After completing the summoning sequence and hitting it with an Apple.

Rainbow Cloud

The Rainbow Cloud is the final, mystical course, accessible only after capturing all 62 Pokémon in the game. It is home to the legendary Pokémon Mew, and the entire course is dedicated to capturing its elusive form.

  • Resident Pokémon:
    • Mew: The sole resident of this course.
  • Key Interactions & Strategies:
    • Mew's Shield: Mew is initially protected by a psychic shield. You must hit this shield with Pester Balls to break it.
    • Luring Mew: After breaking its shield, Mew will teleport around. Throw Apples in its path to make it stop and perform various poses.
    • Poké Flute Interaction: Using the Poké Flute can sometimes make Mew perform unique dances or poses.
    • Best Shot Strategy: The key to a high-scoring Mew photo is to get it close to the camera, ideally performing a unique pose (like spinning or dancing) with its shield broken. Be persistent with Apples and the Poké Flute.
  • Professor Oak's Photo Opportunities:
    • Mew in various poses: The more unique the pose and the closer the shot, the higher the score.
    • Mew spinning: Often triggered by the Poké Flute.
    • Mew with its shield broken: Essential for a good score.